Explosion at steel plant in Turkey kills 16, president says
Officials said the blast began when a crane fell into a furnace during steel casting, and investigators are examining possible negligence.
- On Monday, November 9, 2026, an overhead crane toppled into a furnace at the HABAŞ iron and steel plant in Aliağa, İzmir, sparking a massive explosion and fire that killed 6 workers and left 8 missing.
- The incident occurred around midday when a ceiling crane snapped during liquid steel casting and fell into an arc furnace. Established in 1987, the HABAŞ facility produces 4.5 million tons of steel annually, underscoring the scale of industrial operations at the site.
- Emergency teams continue removing debris to reach trapped workers. Witness Nuri Ali Ulker described the blast as "very intense," saying "I thought it was an earthquake" as the ground shook from the explosion's force.
- Justice Minister Akin Gurlek assigned 4 public prosecutors to investigate the incident. Union spokesperson Oktay Turk condemned the disaster as a "massacre," demanding justice and calling for accountability for those responsible.
- The tragedy follows two other recent worker deaths at the HABAŞ site, intensifying safety concerns. Nationally, at least 1,736 workers died in Turkey during the first 9 months of 2026, reflecting systemic workplace risks across industries.
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292 Articles
A collapsed crane caused the explosion.
At least sixteen workers have been killed in an explosion at an iron and steel factory in western Turkey. Thirteen people were also injured, two of whom are in critical condition, according to Turkish President Erdogan. The factory is located in the coastal town of Aliaga, about 60 kilometers north of Izmir. The explosion occurred around 12:00 local time when an overhead crane—a crane on a fixed rail system at the top of the factory hall capab…
A massive explosion rocked an iron and steel factory in Izmir, Turkey. Sixteen people were killed and 13 injured. The blast occurred when a crane fell into a furnace while replacing a boiler, causing a massive fire. President Erdoğan expressed grief over the incident and ordered a judicial investigation.
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